#Gustaf as Bert

[jj-lynn21]

Mary Poppins Prequel: Ch 4 where ever the magic may take us

ch 1 When we were just a little Lass and Lad  Ch 2 destination cloud 9  Ch 3 Somewhere on cloud 9

ch 5 The End is just the Start of a New Beginning

Warning: fluff, romance, comedy I included my own little whimsical rhyming tune in this chapter because there has to be a song lol. Not a great lyricist but I tried. Just think of the dragon flies actual baby dragons & them along with the cows are cartoons. You will know the scene with you get to it.

 I do so love when the days are perfectly long, sunny and bright. Those days you wake with adventure on your mind as the birds sing your favorite melody outside your window. I think of what great things can happen on such a day. And Bert always supplied me with endless adventures of all kinds when we finale set our sights on each other and no one else. 

Bert came trotting happily up to Mary's stoop with flowers in one hand and paintings he had done under his opposite arm. He awkwardly knocked on the door with the hand that helped hold the paintings almost dropping them. Mary pushed open her window just as her father opened the door.

 "Hello, Mr. Poppin's," Bert said cheerily. "Is Miss Mary ready for our outing today?"

 Mary's Father patted Bert on the shoulder with a smile on his face," Just put your art againt the side of the house. My daughter will be down soon enough young man. I do hope you have her home at a reasonible hour tonight. Her Mother and I did fret when she didn't get home until early the next day the last time you ventured out. I do not expect you will let us feel that way again." 

"No, I am sorry we got so carried away counting all the stars in the heavens." Bert said as he walked in the house. "Did you know there are 5,000 stars that can be seen with the naked eye? It took us ages to count that many.”

 "I see," He chuckled. "Counting stars is a tedious time-consuming project. Just don't spend the night doing it again. You understand? I know you and my daughter are adults but I expect you not to take advantage of her innocence."

 "I would never," Bert stood straight and looked right in Mr. Poppin's eyes as Mary came bouncing down the stairs. Bert looks to her with a big goofy smile on his face holding out the flowers of baby's breath and poppies. 

"Here you go Mary. Poppies for a Poppins." He chuckled. 

"Very thoughtful, Bert" Mary took the flowers and placed them in a nice vase with some water. "Shall we go see what adventure awaits?" 

"As long as that adventure doesn't take you overnight, have a wonderful time." Her father warns. 

Mary hugs him, "As you have told me many times, you can never put a time limit on adventure." 

He was unable to argue his own words spit back to him in such a logical way. "Stay safe, Mary." 

"Always," She took Bert's hand leading him out of the house as her Mother was coming in from a late morning walk.

 "Have a whimsical day, kids." Her Mother waved happily.

 "We will," Mary merrily replied as she started to pull Bert away from the house. 

"Wait," Bert held back. "Our adventurers." He went back to get the paintings from the side of the house. "Now we are ready for a day of adventures." 

Mary walked hand in hand with Bert to an open park. Many other couples lay among the vibrant flowers talking of their love. Some just walk the path along the small lake.

 Bert laid out his art by the edge of the side walk. "Where would you like go, dear Mary?" He walked around his works. "I could roe us down the Tames to a carnival just a few miles down river, the countryside is always nice with the best outdoor cafe and a merry-go-round perfect for a Mary like you. Or back to the circus where we haven't visited since we were wee." 

Mary pats her index finger on the corner of her mouth as she looks at the pictures with great thought. Bert comes around behind her. He wraps his arms around her waist and rests his chin on her shoulder.

 "There seems to be a lot of residual foot traffic on the countryside," Mary points out to Bert. "All the Ladies..." 

He stops her chatter. "It is a popular place to visit." 

Mary shakes her head in disgust. "I did so love the circus." 

"I did also," Bert kisses her cheek and smiled. "But that would be oh so childish for us to try to recapture a memory that is so perfectly engrained in our minds." 

Mary stepped in front of the picture of the couple in shadow on the Tames. "You know how to row a boat, so we keep afloat?"

 "I certainly do Mary," He stands up straight. "I can get us safely through the calm waters and rapids. Down, around, left and right wherever the rive has laid her course for she is a lady that like others holds me i high esteem. Her lusty waters will only want to push us happily down river to a peaceful end point." He is very theatrical with his body and hands as he explains this to his love.

 "Should I be jealous of you and the Tames, Bert?" Mary smirks.

 Bert Chuckles, "You are the only wild wet waters I love with my full heart dear, Mary." 

She giggles, "Good, you are all the magic I need to brighten my day dear Bert. Now your hand please so we can get on with it." 

They jump into the scene on the banks of the Tames. They walk among the foliage to a perfectly sizable canoe. Bert takes Mary's hand to help her to sit.

 "The fairest lady on the Thames dear Mary." Bert compliments.

 "Oh Bert, Such a flatterer." Mary blushes.

 "Oh I believe others are in agreement with me," Bert starts to paddle them down the Tames. Dragon flies flutter scorching Burt's nose. He swooshes them away. 

Yes these baby winged dragons fly alongside the canoe to greet Mary. "Lovely day for a canoe trip, Fairest Lady Mary," 

"Yes, it is my friends." Mary seems to sing when they land on her hand as she puts it palm up in the air. They scorch her nose like they did Bert. "You must control that." She pats her nose with some powder from her dress pocket."

 "Sorry, Mary." They fly into the breezy day. 

Bert starts to hum. Then makes up a little tune as they go along. The cows out for their morning drink sing along. Mary blushes as if she doesn't enjoy the song in her honor. 

      "rowing along the Tames with Mary, 

       The day is quite beautiful and Airy. 

        We have the whole day to enjoy no hurry. 

        When Mary is with us there is no worry." 

The cows and dragon flies sing repeating,

       " We have the whole day to enjoy no hurry. 

        When Mary is with us there is no worry..." 

Bert and everyone sing, 

        "It is no wonder it is Mary that we love." 

Mary Begins her own verse to the tune.

        "It is always an adventure with you, Bert. 

         A girl could get caught up in your Flirt. 

        Floating along the Tames, feels so grand.

        My heart is aflutter, I know there's no demand.

        We have the whole day to enjoy no hurry. 

       When Bert is with me I have no worry." 

The cows and dragon flies, Bert and Mary sing, 

       "We have the whole day to enjoy no hurry..." 

A cow on the banks of the shore interrupts, "rough waters a head. Better hold steady and row quickly through. Good luck." 

"Sure, will," Bert rows harder as the water gets choppier. "Hold on to your seat Mary. I think it is going to be a bumpy ride." 

The canoe is rocked, tossed and turned over the rapids. Bert does his best paddling so they clear the rocks. There are some close calls, but they finally get through the rushing waters. Just as Bert sits to relax a moment they his one tiny rock that jolts Mary in the air and flips the boat upside down tossing Bert right into the water. His white linen suit clings to his body. Mary's skirt flares as she floats down to splash near him. He swims over to her quickly. 

"Are you alright?" He puts his arms around her keeping them both a float. "Sorry I didn't see that little bugger rock." 

She put her arms around him smiling as she reached her feet down to see how deep it was until the hit the bottom. "Bert stand up." She laughed as her toes touched, so she knew he could touch the bottle perfectly well. 

Bert stood turning red with embarrassment from not realizing they were in the shallows now. "Well, then I should pull the canoe to the side before it float off too far." He reaches out, grabbing it easily. 

"Oh look, Bert," Mary points to the Ferris wheel in the distance. "We must go take a ride in to the great blue."

 "Of course my dear," He takes her hand helping her out of the water. His other hand pulling the canoe onto the shore. As soon as they are on shore Mary twirls in her dress. This dries her completely. Her hair even ties back in a yellow and pink ribbon that matched her dress perfectly. Bert marvels at her before she looks to him sternly to do the same to dry off. He does and stumbles from dizziness when he is done. 

She catches on to his bicep to steady him before he falls. "Shall we?" She smiles up at him.

 "We shall," He stumbles a little more. But they eventually dance along the path to the Ferris wheel. As they get closer there is also a merry-go-round with majestic white horses racing in a circle. They bound up to the wheel operator who bows to them both as he opens the seat door.

 "A very charming couple you make Mary and Bert. Enjoy your time in the sky." The operator emotes.

 "Thank you, Sir," Mary curtsied before Bert picked her up by the hips to plop her on the seat. 

"Thank you my dear man," Bert tipped his flat cap to the Carney before hopping on the seat next to Mary. 

Mary swings her feet while holding the bar when it's closed in on them. Bert can touch until they are swooshed off the ground. He puts one hand behind her and the other over one of hers on the bar. His nose nuzzles the back of her neck up to behind her ear. She giggled. 

"Mary, when can I be with you again," He breathed gentle on the back on her ear. She turned her head to look in his beautiful blue eyes, 

"I'm not sure what you mean, Bert," She said coyly. "We are together right here." 

The Wheel stops them at the top. Bert takes her chin with his thumb and two fingers after. His eyes search hers, "I mean I want to pleasure you more, Mary. I want to have sex with you again." He kisses her lovingly yet coaxes her lips open with his tongue to enter her mouth toying with hers.

 Mary closes her eyes as they kiss. She pulls away as the Ferris wheel starts up again, "You are so insatiable." 

He leaned back with a soft almost inaudible groan. When they get to the bottom the ride operator opens the bar. Bert steps off and picks Mary up putting her on the ground to stand. She takes his hand walking towards the cotton candy booth. 

"Perhaps another ride is a good idea," Mary teased.

 Bert pulled her into him, "When ever you want me, Mary." 

She patted his chest with her hand, "Take me to the real London and you can have me. But for now dear Bert, some cotton candy and the merry-go-round." 

She pulls him over to the ride after they get pink and blue cotton candy. They bob up and down on the ride as whimsical music plays. The music continues as their horses gallop off through the little amusement area and down the banks of the Tames. 

Mary laughs waving a hand at Bert as her horse passes his. He catches up to her just as they reach the point they entered. He hopes off his stallion. And helps Mary off hers. 

"I should get you home before it gets much later than was your Father's wish." Bert smiles holding both of her hands. "But we will have our next outing in London."

 "That will be some magic," Mary looks in his eyes, and they are back home in the park..

[hub-pub-bub]

Works by Woolf, Dumas, Kipling

As you may know, what’s described as hundreds of thousands of copyrighted works were released into the public domain today (January 1) in the United States. They include not only books but also Cecil B. DeMille’s film The 10 Commandments, Noël Coward’s musical London Calling! and one of the greatest revenge songs ever written, “Who’s Sorry Now?” the music for which is by Ted Snyder with lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby.

Such a formidable entry into the public domain hasn’t happened in the States in more than 20 years.

And the reason for that exposes one of the more interesting elements of copyright law: while  today we tend to worry about instances in which copyright protection is being weakened—as is the case in Canada where the Copyright Modernization Act has severely damaged copyright revenue collection for publishers and authors in the educational domain—there are actually cases in which overly zealous copyright protection is a problem, as well.

In the book industry and here at Publishing Perspectives, you often encounter concerns about “the erosion of copyright” as a grave and growing danger in the digital era. And so it is.

But you’ll find the phrase “erosion of the public domain” most pertinent to today’s news. And that’s because of a 1998 law called the Copyright Term Extension Act, or the Sony Bono Act—named for the entertainer-turned-congressman who died in a skiing accident nine months prior to the act’s passage.

As the staff of the Duke University Center for the Study of the Public Domain writes in an article called “The Incredible Shrinking Public Domain” there have been several steps in copyright legislation in the United States, resulting in the situation today.

We’re bulleting out the center’s text for you here for clarity and to make the progression of changes clearer:

1790: “When Congress passed the first copyright law in 1790, the copyright term lasted for 14 years, with the option to renew for another 14 years if the copyright holder was still living.

Until 1978: “Before 1978, the copyright term was still 28 years from the date of publication, renewable once for another 28 years—but 85 percent of copyrights were not renewed and went immediately into the public domain.

1978: “Under the 1976 Copyright Act—which went into effect in 1978—the term became 50 years from the date of the author’s death (with no need to renew to have the full term).

1998: “And in 1998, the copyright term was increased to 70 years after the death of the author, and to 95 years after publication for corporate “works-for-hire”, locking up an entire generation of works for an additional 20 years. With these and interim extensions, the copyright term has been extended 11 times in the past 50 years.”

And because that 1998 extension was retroactively applied to works that were then about to go into the public domain, there are works being released today that go all the way back to 1923: they were originally to have entered the public domain two decades ago.

‘The Mickey Mouse Act’

The Duke center researchers report that an astonishing 98 percent of copyrighted material now may be “orphaned”—a term that means no rights holders can be found or identified for these works. Studies, the center reports, indicate that only 2 percent of works now between 55 and 75 years old still have commercial value. So no one is benefitting from their protected status, “while the entire public,” writes the center’s staff, “loses the ability to adapt, transform, preserve, digitize, republish, and otherwise make new and valuable uses of these forgotten works.”

Glenn Fleishman wrote the Bono Act at The Atlantic in April, in a reflection of how the late Rep. Bono–who represented California’s 44th district—is understood to have been driven primarily by Hollywood’s interest in longer protections.

This is how the Sonny Bono Act got another, less felicitous nickname for itself: The Mickey Mouse Act.

“The Sonny Bono Act,” Fleishman writes, “was widely seen as a way to keep Disney’s Steamboat Willie from slipping into the public domain, which would allow that first appearance of Mickey Mouse in 1928 from being freely copied and distributed. By tweaking the law, Mickey got another 20-year reprieve. When that expires [in 2024], Steamboat Willie can be given away, sold, remixed, turned pornographic, or anything else.”

And in an insightful opinion piece, The New York Times’ editorial board on February 21, 1998, wrote:

“What vexes any discussion of copyright is the idea of benefit. It is easy to see what the Disney Corporation will lose when Mickey Mouse goes out of copyright, as he will within a few years. It is harder to specify what the public will lose if Mickey Mouse does not go out of copyright.

“The tendency, when thinking about copyright, is to vest the notion of creativity in the owners of copyright. But artists, including those who work for places like Disney, always emerge from the undifferentiated public, and the works in the public domain, which means nearly every work of any kind produced before the early 1920’s, are an essential part of every artist’s sustenance, of every person’s sustenance. So far, Congress has heard no representatives of the public domain. It has apparently forgotten that its own members are meant to be those representatives.”

As for books, in particular, the Duke center’s Balfour Smith’s research has produced a helpful list, according to which some of the works today being released into the public domain include:

Jacob’s Room, Virginia Woolf

Maestro-Don Geusaldo, Giovanni Verga, translated by DH Lawrence

Ivanhoe, Walter Scott, illustrations by Frank E. Schoonover

Heidi, Johanna Spyri, illustrations by Gustaf Tanggren

The Prospects of Industrial Civilization, Bertrand Russell

Bel Ami, Guy de Maupassant

If Men Played Cards as Women Do, George S. Kaufman

The Three Musketeers, Alexandre Dumas

The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran

Dead Souls, Nikolay Gogol

Land and Sea Tales for Boys and Girls, Rudyard Kipling

Where Are We Going?, David Lloyd George

Harmonium, Wallace Stevens

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and The Murder on the Links, Agatha Christie

St. Joan, George Bernard Shaw

Towards a New Architecture, Le Corbusier (Charles-Édouard Jeanneret)

Whose Body?, Dorothy L. Sayers

‘The Second Part of the Copyright Bargain’

In arguing its case, the Duke center’s messaging takes care to counter any suggestion that its policies are in some way anti-copyright.

Public domain is “the second part of the copyright bargain; the limited period of exclusive rights ends and the work enters the realm of free culture.”Duke University Center for the Study of the Public Domain

“Does all this mean that copyright is a bad system?” we read in the center’s material. “Of course not. Copyright gives creators—authors, musicians, filmmakers, photographers—exclusive rights over their works for a limited time. This encourages creators to create and publishers to distribute—that’s a very good thing.

“But when the copyright ends, the work enters the public domain—to join the plays of Shakespeare, the music of Mozart, the books of Dickens—the material of our collective culture. That’s a good thing too. It’s the second part of the copyright bargain; the limited period of exclusive rights ends and the work enters the realm of free culture.

“Prices fall, new editions come out, songs can be sung, symphonies performed, movies displayed. Even better, people can legally build on what came before.”

And in honor of this important “Public Domain Day” in the States, we leave you with four verses that are among the best-loved poetry of the American canon.

Robert Frost’s 1922 “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” was published in 1923, renewed by Frost in 1951, and then copyrighted in 1969 by Henry Holt and Company as part of The Poetry of Robert Frost, edited by Edward Connery Lathem.

Before today, this poem technically couldn’t be fully quoted in a formal publication without permission of the publisher. Now, it can.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening By Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound’s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.

[cawamedia]

Cawa Media deltog vid en presskonferens på Hotell Blique by Nobis i Stockholm idag meddelades Guldbaggenomineringarna för filmåret 2019. I täten med sju nomineringar vardera ligger And Then We Danced och Quick, följda av Eld & lågor och 438 dagar som har sex nomineringar vardera. Guldbaggegalan arrangeras av Filminstitutet i samarbete med SVT och äger rum på Cirkus i Stockholm den 20 januari 2020.

En nomineringskommitté bestående av 36 ledamöter i fyra grupper har genom juryförfarande kommit fram till följande nomineringar till 2019 års Guldbaggar.

Bästa film

438 dagar i regi av Jesper Ganslandt Producenter: Sandra Harms och Karl Fredrik Ulfung

And Then We Danced                                                                      i regi av Levan Akin Producenter: Mathilde Dedye och Ketie Danelia

Om det oändliga i regi av Roy Andersson Producenter: Pernilla Sandström och Johan Carlsson

Sune – Best man i regi av Jon Holmberg Producenter: Malin Söderlund och Linus Stöhr Torell

Transnistra i regi av Anna Eborn Producenter: David Herdies och Michael Krotkiewski

Bästa regi

Levan Akin för And Then We Danced

Roy Andersson för Om det oändliga

Jon Holmberg för Sune – Best man

Pella Kågerman och Hugo Lilja för Aniara

Bästa kvinnliga huvudroll

Pernilla August för rollen som Britt-Marie i Britt-Marie var här

Vigdis Hentze Björck för rollen som Johanna i Fågelfångarens son

Emelie Garbers för rollen som mimaroben i Aniara

Sanna Sundqvist för rollen som Niki i Ring mamma!

Bästa manliga huvudroll

Levan Gelbakhiani för rollen som Merab i And Then We Danced

Jonas Karlsson för rollen som Hannes Råstam i Quick

Johannes Kuhnke för rollen som Anders i Jag kommer hem igen till jul

Gustaf Skarsgård och Matias Varela för sina roller som Martin Schibbye och Johan Persson i 438 dagar

Bästa kvinnliga biroll

Evin Ahmad för rollen som Maggie i Ring mamma!

Alba August för rollen som Jenny Küttim i Quick

Sissela Benn för rollen som Karin i Sune – Best man

Bianca Cruzeiro för rollen som Isagel i Aniara

Bästa manliga biroll

Tomas von Brömssen för rollen som morfar Helmer i Sune – Best man

David Dencik för rollen som Sture Bergwall i Quick

Ulf Stenberg för rollen som Mathias i Fraemling

Bachi Valishvili för rollen som Irakli i And Then We Danced

Bästa manus

Levan Akin för manuset till And Then We Danced

Roy Andersson för manuset till Om det oändliga

Lisa Aschan för manuset till Ring mamma!

Erlend Loe för manuset till Quick

Bästa foto

Lisabi Fridell för fotot i And Then We Danced

Ragna Jorming för fotot i Quick

Aril Wretblad för fotot i Eld & lågor

Bästa klippning

Erika Gonzales, Kristin Grundström och Karolina Bengtsson för klippningen av Josefin & Florin

Rickard Krantz för klippningen av Quick

Anna Eborn för klippningen av Transnistra

Bästa kostym

Margrét Einarsdóttir för kostymerna i Eld & lågor

Clinton Booyse för kostymerna i 438 dagar

Anna Hagert och Anna Karlsson för kostymerna i En del av mitt hjärta

Bästa ljud/ljuddesign

Andreas Franck och Fredrik Dalenfjäll för ljudet i 438 dagar

Claes Lundberg för ljudet i Josefin & Florin

Christian Holm och Niklas Skarp för ljudet i Jag kommer hem igen till jul

Bästa mask/smink

Jenny Fred för mask/smink i En del av mitt hjärta

AnnaCarin Lock för mask/smink i Quick

Madeleine Gaterud och Therese Sandersson för mask/smink i Eld & lågor

Bästa originalmusik

Jon Ekstrand för musiken i 438 dagar

Nathaniel Méchaly för musiken i Eld & lågor

Johan Ramström för musiken i Sara med allt sitt väsen

Bästa scenografi

Teo Baramidze för scenografin i And Then We Danced

Anders Hellström, Frida Ekstrand Elmström och Nicklas Nilsson för scenografin i Om det oändliga

Pater Sparrow för scenografin i Eld & lågor

Bästa visuella effekter

Bert Deruyck och Kaj Steveman för effekterna i Eld & lågor

Torbjörn Olsson för effekterna i 438 dagar

Arild Andersson, Per Jonsson och Andreas Wicklund för effekterna i Aniara

Bästa kortfilm

Excess Will Save Us Regi: Morgane Dziurla-Petit

Ingen lyssnar Regi: Elin Övergaard

Psychic Regi: Tova Mozard

Bästa dokumentärfilm

Fraemling Regi: Mikel Cee Karlsson

Josefin & Florin Regi: Ellen Fiske och Joanna Karlberg

Transnistra Regi: Anna Eborn

Bästa utländska film

Kapernaum Regi: Nadine Labaki

Marriage Story Regi: Noah Baumbach

Parasit Regi: Bong Joon-ho

Guldbaggens publikpris

Som tidigare meddelats är följande fem filmer nominerade i första röstningsomgången:

Britt-Marie var här i regi av Tuva Novotny Producenter: Gustav Oldén och Nicklas Wikström Nicastro

En del av mitt hjärta i regi av Edward af Sillén Producent: Patrick Ryborn

Hasse & Tage – En kärlekshistoria i regi av Jane Magnusson Producenter: Fredrik Heinig och Cecilia Nessen

Jag kommer hem igen till jul i regi av Ella Lemhagen Producenter: Sandra Harms och Rachel Bodros Wolgers

Sune – Best man i regi av Jon Holmberg Producenter: Malin Söderlund och Linus Stöhr Torell

Guldbaggenomineringarna för filmåret 2019 Cawa Media deltog vid en presskonferens på Hotell Blique by Nobis i Stockholm idag meddelades Guldbaggenomineringarna för filmåret 2019.

[tcorron]

The small village of Wasco, Illinois, located in the heart of Kane County, has a fascinating and rich history which until now has never been published. This thoroughly-researched volume, at over 460-pages in length, offers more than one hundred never-before-published images gathered from both private and public records, in addition to a decade-by-decade history of the village, starting with its initial settlement in the 1880s, and continuing forward through the present decade. More than a thousand issues of local newspapers dating between 1885 and 2018 (such as the St. Charles Chronicle, Elburn Herald, Elgin Advocate, Geneva Republican, Kane County Chronicle, and more) were carefully read by the author in order to compile this work, which covers every early family known in Wasco, as well as every historic structure, both past and present, in the village. Brief histories of dozens of businesses spanning Wasco’s past and present are included here, including the Bergland/Hummel Lumberyard and store, Erickson’s blacksmith shop, King’s Mill, the Wasco Blacksmith Shop, Mather’s store and service station, the Wanzer Dairy, the Wasco Inn, the Wasco Garage, The Farm Restaurant, White Brothers Trucking, Country Gas, the Wasco Nursery, and more. Daily life in the village has not been neglected, and several interviews with long-time Wasco residents has helped paint an accurate and compelling picture of how the region has changed over the past eighty or more years. Sports in Wasco (particularly baseball and softball) are covered in this work, and there is extensive material related to both the Wasco Baptist Church and Wasco School. Hundreds of deeds and several family archives were also used in the compilation of this book, which should prove to be of interest to anyone with a link to Campton Township, Campton Hills, Kane County, or early “railroad towns.” Major social organizations important to Wasco’s past and present are covered in this publication as well. Some of the most influential and interesting of these include the Wasco Ladies Aid, the Pure Milk Association (Wasco local), the Wasco American Legion, the Wasco Glad Game Club, the Wasco Home Bureau, the Pollyanna Club, the Christian Endeavor Society, Modern Woodmen of America, the Wasco Mothers’ Club, the Shrinking Matrons, and the U-Go-I-Go Club. A full surname index, bibliography, and complete table of contents offers researchers an aide to finding information about their Wasco friends relatives. Some of the families covered in this work include: the Austin family, the Edward Swanson family, the Bergland family, the Gustaf Swanson family, the John Swanson family, the Higgins family, the Hawkins family, the Peterson family, the Charles Anderson family, the Bell family, the Rice family, the Whitney family, the Leonard White family, the Millen family, the Bert Brown family, the Waterhouse family, the Carpenter family, the Fischer family, the Isaac Johnson family, the George Brown family, the Stevens family, the Mather family, the Erickson family, the Denker family, the Bowgren family, the Ekstrom family, the Jay family, the Langrill family, the Vanderhoof family, the Lathrop family, the Hagaman family, the Anderson/Barber family, the Chrystal family, the Harold Anderson family, the Ross family, the Theodore Johnson family, and the two Olson families.

by Adam Daniel Gibbons (Author)

• Paperback: 474 pages • Language: English • ISBN-10: 1732701601 • ISBN-13: 978-1732701601 • 8.5 x 1 x 11 inches

Source: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1732701601 October 11, 2018

Wasco, Illinois: A History Paperback by Adam Gibbons The small village of Wasco, Illinois, located in the heart of Kane County, has a fascinating and rich history which until now has never been published.

[jj-lynn21]

Ch 1 When we were just a little Lass and Lad

This story came from an idea @grandpa-sweaters had from a picture of Gustaf Skarsgard looking like he could play Bert from Mary Poppins. I very much agree.  

Ch 2 destination cloud 9

ch 3 Somewhere on Cloud 9

Ch 4 where ever the magic may take us

ch 5 The End is just the Start of a New Beginning

Warning: Just a bunch of whimsical fluff to start off.

Ch 1 When we were just a little Lass and Lad

It has been a while since you have believed in magic, has it not? I bet it has. But somewhere deep down you still feel that sense of whimsical energy you had as a child. Let that child-like curiosity follow me in to the Long Ago. You might say, “but the long ago is a time, not a place Ms.”

I assure you it is a place. A wondrous place where any wonderful thing starts. A wonderful thing like my beginning. You may have heard of me in some story that probably exaggerated some of the times I helped the Banks family, my family. I am Mary Poppins. And I shall explain everything.

Where to start, where to start? Oh yes, a long time ago where many things of a whimsical nature start. I was more created than just born as most creatures are, I suppose. The first daughter of the land to magical enough parents who taught me not everyone would appreciate my perfectly positive personality. Half the time they could not understand my cheery disposition.

When it rained, I was happy the flowers, trees, and other plants were getting the drink they craved. Plus playing in puddles was quite a fun time even in your most fantastical dress. When the sun was too hot for some, I was happy to let it tan my porcelain skin to the golden color of bronze. Of course, I was liberal on the sunscreen on the daily. All the seasons and all the weather just nourished our little place in the universe.

I very much annoyed some people but not Bert Alfred. Oh, he can inspire a whimsical song out of anyone. Happy-go-lucky, satisfied, charming, friendly, kind, imaginative, energetic, funny, zany, easy-going, artistic, intelligent, insightful, optimistic, empathetic, endearing, heroic and I need to take a breath. He is my everything. Oh Bert, always my first love although my parents insisted it was of the puppy variety. I suppose it was the fact our talents complemented each other so well.

Bert was able to do anything really. A unique Jack of all trades. But we fell in love in his chalk drawing. Even as children when we met on my stoop while our parents discussed whatever whimsical notions, I was intrigued by his chalk drawings full of more than they appeared. At least when I came around. They did fret the first time we ventured into the unknown.

Flashback

“Hi,” A shy precocious eight-year-old Bert smiled sitting beside Mary.

A seven-year-old Mary giggled, “hello, I’m Mary. And you are Sir?”

He takes out a small box of colored chalk from the pocket in his button-up shirt. “I’m Bert,” he tittered before kneeling on the sidewalk starting to create a scene. He thought her white dress and parasol was cute but he was to shy to tell her.

Mary kneels beside him watching his every stroke. “Oh, I do enjoy the circus. Have you ever really been? Uncle Albert took me to one once.”

Bert shook his head no, as he continued to add a red and white tent behind the lion on a pedestal with the tamer close by urging the lion to sit pretty. He stood when he was finished moving his closed mouth back and forth in contemplation. He looked to his new friend Mary, “Would you want to go with me?”

“Oh dear Bert, could we?” She smiled excitedly. “When shall we go? Will your parents take us or will mine? Will they even say yes?...”

He laughed, “You sure do talk a lot, Mary.”

She stuck her tongue out at him, “I certainly do not. I am practically perfect in every way. Just ask my parents.”

Bert chuckled, “I’ll take your word, Mary. We can go right now. All we have to do is…” He looks down at the drawing. “Hold my hand.”

Mary takes his hand in amazement and wonder.

“You think, you wink, do a double blink, you close your eyes and jump.” Bert and Mary jump on the painting and giggle loudly.

The adults look out the window at them and laugh. They are so glad their children are having a whimsical time together. They go back to planning the every few centuries excursion to London. You must be an adult to go on these adventures so the children will be entrusted to take care of each other. Which they have always done in Long Ago. The majority of the caretaking done by the ones more closely to adulthood.

Mary straightens and looks to see if anyone is watching, I guess if we are not gone for long, I will show you how its done dear Bert. My Aunt Iris showed me but said we must keep it secret. Can you keep a secret Bert?”

He nodded yes, “My Aunt Tilly was the one that took me on my first adventure. I must have done something wrong.”

“No silly,” Mary giggled. “It is just a girl thing. Now take my hand. Its off to the circus we go. One, two…three.”

They jump into the chalk drawing. The lion roars and they run behind the tamer that is drawn like the cartoon character Goofy and acts like him also.

“By garsh, are you young ones alright,” He asked scratching his head since he didn’t see them there a second ago. “Whoa, there Mr. Lion. We have guests you see.”

The lion bows to them with a smile of acceptance.

The tamer walks over and pats him on the head, “good boy. How about some lunch.”

The lion nods full mane rustling enthusiastically.

“I’m Flaky Frank.” He bows to the kids cordially. “We have popcorn, hotdogs and cotton candy in the tent. And the big show is about to start if you two would like to like to join?”

As they walk into the tent a rhinoceros in a colorful suit is at a small booth, “Tickets for the show, get your tickets. Show starts in five minutes.”

“I’m Mary and my friend is Bert,” She said politely. “We would like two tickets please?”

“Sure thing, Lass and Lad.” He smiles. “And where are your guardians on this most auspicious occasion.”

“I am his guardian and he is mine, so we both have a great guardian you see,” She answered proudly.

“I see,” he nods and gives them tickets. “Better get a seat. It is about to fill up quickly.”

As soon as they sit balancing popcorn between their legs, cotton candy in one hand, and a hotdog in the other, the other seats in the bleachers do fill up quickly as in immediately with a variety of characters. Lions, tigers, bears, elephants, trapeze artists and tightrope walkers entertained, and everyone clapped. As the kids walked out of the tent thunderstruck. The rain started dripping. Then it started pouring.

“Grab my hand Bert,” Mary held her hand out to him.

Bert took her hand. Then he came nearer hugging her protectively. As they held each other shivering in the rain they were back in front of her home. The rain pours, lightning struck, thunder roared, and they were surrounded by their parents and other adults from The Long Ago.

End flashback

But soon it was forgotten by all but me and Bert. Bert just got more handsome as we grew up together. He was very popular dating many women including Mavis, Sybil, Prudence, and Gwendolyn to my chagrin. 

But being practically perfect in every way I ignored my feelings that some might have considered jealousy.  All the while I kept my eye on that silly boy, for his own good of course. It had nothing at all to do with his growth spurt and chest that looked like a nice place to rest your head on a summer’s eve. 

Flashback

As she prepared to head home she thought, That boy is just plane…

“Hey, Mary.” He acknowledged as he exited the college library seeing her astride her pink bicycle with her basket full of fairytales.

[jj-lynn21]

Mary Poppins Prequal Ch 3: Somewhere on cloud 9

ch 1 When we were just a little Lass and Lad Ch 2 destination cloud 9

Ch 4  where ever the magic may take us

ch 5 The End is just the Start of a New Beginning

Warning: fluff. smut

The clouds are puffy white shapes around them as Bert and Mary rise. Some clouds looked like horses trotting across the sky. Others a line of circus animals on parade. And Mary swears one group of clouds is a whimsical carousel with magical unicorns instead of horses. Bert lands them in a perfectly plump cloud.

"Well, that was exciting,” Mary exclaimed sitting on the edge of the fluffiness. She looked down on London. Twinkling lights were just starting to appear. "What a spectacular view." 

Gustaf puts the picnic basket down, lays the folded up umbrellas beside it and leans back on the cloud watching Mary's enthusiasm with a smile on his face, 

"Nothing like a good view." He leans back on his elbows.

 She looks back. Her cheeks crimson as Bert looks at her. "You are incorrigible."

 "Maybe I just need someone suitable to correct me in my errors?" Bert chuckled.

"I suppose that might help you," She leans back. 

Bert puts his hands under his head and looks up higher in the sky as if ignoring her leaning closer. He senses how Mary is now looking at him, but makes no move. A smile lights up his face and eyes.

Mary looks to him with suspicion, "Shall we just have lunch now dear Bert?"

He wrinkles his nose and mouth in contemplation of his next words. "If that is what you want Mary." He leans up quickly kissing her before sitting up the rest of the way. "Let's snack on the bounty we collected.” 

Mary is stunned for just a moment before she lays out some cheeses and bread. "I thought stealing kisses would be beneath you, dear Bert." She talked without looking at him. 

"I was not aware I stole any such thing," Bert smiled innocently as he brought Mary's face to look at him. "But if you truly feel that way dear Mary, may I ask for a proper kiss?"

"There is nothing proper about a kiss, dear Bert," She replied with shakiness in her voice. 

Bert pulled away, "So that's a no?"

"No, I mean yes, I mean I..." She shakes her head, "Oh, bother." She Leans down kissing him strongly.

They both fall back on the cloud and start to sink through as they kiss more passionately. When they notice the drop they laugh and rise back through their cloud. 

"Now who stole a kiss, Dear M..." 

Bert is cut off with another kiss. "I would never do any such thing, Dear Bert."  She sat up abruptly beside him.

Bert chuckled, "I stand corrected." 

"I believe you sit corrected, not stand," Mary tried to stay poised but a giggle broke from her lips.

"Sounds like you correct me with joy," he pours wine for them both.

"Oh Bert," She sips at her wine, "Joy is not the word I would use at all. It is more like bliss."

They both laugh. They drink, eat, and reminisce about childhood. Excitement builds in their hearts. London brightly lit below. Stars lighting up the above. Time barely register with them. 

"We should go there," Bert glance down on London.

"The next time the winds truly change we will go with the others," She finishes her wine. "For now we have the view below and the stars above." She snaps her fingers and the basket with all its contents disappear. "And just us of course."

"Of course," Bert smiles,

Mary's prim and proper attitude seems to fade as she jumped on Bert with wild abandon. "Have you had sex with all those other girls on a cloud as the night rose to its peak?"

"No," He rasped as he pulled her hair out of its binding to flow around his face kissing her wantingly. "Is that what you want, Mary?"

"I wouldn't have agreed to come up here if I didn't," She whispered in his ear before biting his earlobe playfully.

Bert rolls her, changing their positions. With a flick a his wrist and some words, "av med dukar," their cloths were gone. A full moon rose high as they let their passions go wild under the stars and over London. 

Their soft syncopated sounds grew stronger as they held each other in their lustful pursuit of pleasure.

"Are you doing alright?" Gustaf breathed out stagnantly. 

She panted out a, "yes."

Bert's thrusts quickened. Mary clung to him. Her hips begging for more. Her hands gripping at his back. Her pleasure rose to a height she had never know as her orgasm hit her. Bert breath heavy. He let out a satisfied groan as he came soon after her. 

His forehead met hers as he slowed. "I love you, Mary, I think I always have." Mary kissed him before laying back on the cloud to rest. "You should see me home safe then my dear Bert."

"Of course, my lovely dear Mary, of course." Gustaf smiled down at her enjoying the after glow of their love making. 

It was 2 a.m. when Bert walked Mary to her family's door. A porch light went on as they got to the door. Bert held her. His brightly lit blue eyes gazing at her lovingly.  Mary kissed him sweetly before opening the door.

"I believe I would like to go on more adventures with you Bert. Should we do something tomorrow?"

"You bet Mary Poppins," He said excitedly.

 ""How about you draw somewhere romantic and fun," She smiles. "I did love the circus when we were children but I think you can do better now."

"Absolute," He started thinking of places as she shut the door.

Bert hoped off the porch. He jumped up clicking his heels and hummed to himself as he walked homes.

[jj-lynn21]

Ch 2 destination cloud 9

warning: fluff, (there will be smut coming up)

ch 1 When we were just a little Lass and Lad

ch 3: Somewhere on cloud 9

Ch 4 where ever the magic may take us

ch 5 The End is just the Start of a New Beginning

Ch 2 destination cloud 9

A lady must be polite when anyone says hello. And Bert was not just anyone really. I wonder why the young man has taken it upon himself to call on me this day… “Hello, Bert.”

Bert flashing a knowing grin that told her he knew she had been watching him. He was always quite intuitive that way. “Maybe we should have some lunch instead of keeping an eye on each other from afar.”

“Perhaps that is a splendid idea,” Mary ponders the idea for a moment. “What about Mavis, Sybil, Prudence, or Gwendolyn? Whichever you are dating now. A girl loses track of all your conquests.”

“Oh, Mary, Mary, Mary,” He chuckles, “girls tell exaggerated stories some times. I hung out with them sure, but none could compare to the lady that stole my heart long ago.”

“Well, maybe you should be offering to have lunch with her,” She said cheekily.

Bert grinned, “I thought that was what I was doing Miss Mary Poppins.”

“Well then,” Mary said a little flustered. “I suppose tomorrow we could have lunch. It would be agreeable to have a picnic in the clouds overlooking London. It is a beautiful view.”

“If you wish my Mary…” Gustaf started.

Mary cuts him off, “I would not presume I am yours, dear Bert.”

“Excuse me, dear Mary,” Gustaf crooned. “Why don’t we just go now. I have no plans for the rest of the afternoon and unless you feel an overwhelming urge to read all those books in one afternoon, perhaps you are free also?”

“Fine, fine, come along.” Mary tittered, “I think we can find an appropriate picnic lunch along the way.” She looks through her backpack around the books and pulls out a picnic basket. This should do quite nicely, don’t you agree?”

“It is a practically perfect picnic basket,” He got on his ten-speed bike. “You lead the way, Miss Mary.”

Bert was quite ahead of his time letting me lead our expedition stop at the fruit stand for a few Mangosteen, cumquat, and other fruits . They also picked up some whimsical wine that seems to call to them when they picked out their fruit . Then they headed to the dairy to get heart-shaped Coeur de Neufchâtel cheese and some bread the lady of the dairy had made fresh that morning.

Bert Held the basket and his umbrella up high. “have you been to Cloud 9 with anyone else Miss Mary?” Bert murmured as he touches his forehead to hers.

“Definitely not, Burt.” She held her breath for a moment as he leaned into her. “I’ve never even caught the right breeze to get up there. Have you Bert?” She looked into his eyes. She laid her arm over his shoulder.

“Not yet but I believe this is a very special day,” Bert smiled. “ Winds in the east, mist coming in… “

As they start to lift off the ground Mary’s eyes are wide with wonder, “Oh my.”

“Like somethin' is brewin' and 'bout to begin. “ Bert smiled as they soared above the clouds.